Royal horses make DeSoto stop Saturday

Storied horses of Europe visit

Acclaimed riding master Rene Gasser brings some of the world's most elite and celebrated breeds to Southaven Saturday when his "Gala of the Royal Horses" continues its first North American tour with a stop at the Landers Center in Southaven.

"People usually can only see this on television or in documentaries from Europe," said Gasser, who based "Gala" on an equestrian show that has previously only been seen in the elite riding schools of Spain and Vienna, Austria. "In bringing that to the United States, the reception has been absolutely amazing."

"Gala of the Royal Horses" features 15 horses imported from Spain, Austria and Holland. The animals are selected from among Europe's royal horses, four breeds that have been prized by monarchs and military leaders for centuries for their athleticism, grace and beauty.

The breeds include the Arabian, a horse whose praises are sung in the Bible; the ancient Spanish Andalusian, which was a prized asset of the conquistadors in their victories; the famous Lipizzaner from Austria, a cross breed between the Andalusian and the chariot horses of ancient Rome that has been featured in numerous films; and the Friesian, a Dutch breed that proved itself over hundreds of years of Western European warfare, including the 30 Years War and the Crusades.

"All the old breeds are usually from military backgrounds, but now it is an art form," said Gasser, explaining how, with the departure of horses from the battlefield in the 20th century, the animals have become admired figures of history and beauty comparable to the greatest works of European art. "In Vienna, those horses have been performing for over 400 years and in Spain for over 700 years."

In Gasser's show, the featured horses will display the training they have received, specifically the precise gymnastic movements of classical "dressage" and the rarely seen "airs above ground," a series of jumping maneuvers that have their roots in military training.

To highlight the horse's role in European, and especially Spanish culture, "Gala of the Royal Horses" will also feature the animals with authentic flamenco artists whose rhythmic music tradition is almost as old as the equestrian one.

"We have guitarists, singers and dancers with us as well," said Gasser. "One of the highlights is when one of our big black stallions dances with a flamenco dancer. And not only do they dance, but they dance on a platform so you can hear the noise of the flamenco dancer but also the noise of the horse's hooves."

For the Swiss-born Gasser, horses have been a lifelong obsession. He comes from a long line of equestrians, stretching back seven generations. His daughter Katrina, nicknamed Gigi, is also a performer in "Gala of the Royal Horses."

"I was born into this, and I was lucky to be born into something that I love," said Gasser, who has spent the past 10 years touring the world with different equestrian productions before putting this show together for a two-year tour.

"I think with all the modern gadgets these days, a lot of people want to go back to something traditional, something that they can see, something that they can touch, something that they can smell."